Transferring data from Xiaomi to iPhone: a complete guide with a guarantee of file safety

The transition from Xiaomi to iPhone is not just a change of gadget, but a complete migration of digital life: contacts, photos, notes and even message history. Many users fear this process because of the risk of losing data or facing technical difficulties. In practice, the transfer takes from 15 minutes to an hour — if you know the right tools and avoid typical errors.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to transfer data (including Apple’s official and alternative solutions for complex cases), compare them in speed and reliability, and give a checklist for preparing phones.

Spoiler: The most reliable method is to use Apple's Move to iOS program, but it only works when you first set up your iPhone. If you've already activated a new gadget, read about cloud services and manual transfer via your computer.

1.Preparation of phones: what to do before data transfer

Incorrect preparation is the main cause of migration failures, and be sure to follow these steps to avoid file loss or process freezes:

• 📱 Update the software on both devices: on Xiaomi check the relevance MIUI In Settings → The phone. → System Update, on iPhone - Settings → Mainstream → Update of the PO.
• 🔋 Charging at least 50% – data transfer can take up to an hour, and discharging during the process will lead to errors.
• 📶 Stable Wi-Fi: Both phones must be connected to the same network (mobile internet is not suitable!).
• 🗑️ Clean up garbage: Delete unnecessary files on Xiaomi via Security → Cleaning to speed up transfer.

If you transfer data from Xiaomi to iPhone via cable, use the original Lightning/USB-C Apple cables -- cheap ones often don't support data transfer, and check if the bootloader is unlocked on your computer. Redmi/POCO: On some firmware, this can block access to files.

⚠️ Note: If data encryption is enabled on Xiaomi (Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption, disable it in advance – this can prevent programs like Move to iOS from counting files.

Connect both phones to charging|Update the software on Xiaomi and iPhone|Delete unnecessary files|Check the cable for efficiency|Shut down. VPN/antivirus on Xiaomi-->

2.Official way: Apple's Move to iOS app

This is the recommended method for data portability if you haven't set up your iPhone yet.

• 📞 Contacts, call history
• 📷 Photos and videos (without loss of quality)
• 📝 Communications (SMS/MMS, not WhatsApp!)
• 📍 Browser bookmarks
• 🎵 Music and books (if not protected) DRM)

How to use:

1. On iPhone, when you first set up, select Data Transfer from Android.
2. On Xiaomi, download Move to iOS from Google Play and run it.
3. The iPhone will have a 6- or 10-digit code, type it into Xiaomi.
4. Select the data to transfer and wait until it is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).

Important: If the iPhone is already configured, the only way to use Move to iOS is to reset it to factory settings (Settings) → Mainstream → Transfer or discharge → This will delete all data from the iPhone, so back up to iCloud first.

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If the transfer is suspended during the "Minutes Only" phase, don't interrupt the process, which is normal for large amounts of data. Wait at least 20-30 minutes before restarting.

3. Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendars, mail)

If Move to iOS isn’t suitable (like the iPhone is already set up), the easiest way to move contacts, calendars and email is to sync through Google Account.This method works on all Xiaomi models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 etc.) and does not require additional programs.

Instructions:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Google accounts and make sure sync is enabled for Contacts, Calendar and Gmail.
2. On iPhone, go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add an account → Google.
3. Enter the same account details as on Xiaomi and enable synchronization.

The data will be on the iPhone within 5-10 minutes, and the advantage of this method is that you don't have to connect the phones to each other, and you can transfer the data selectively, and the disadvantage is that it doesn't work for photos, videos and apps.

⚠️ Note: If your contacts are duplicated on Xiaomi (e.g. from Mi Account and Google), clear the duplicates through the Contacts app before syncing. → Management → Combining and correcting.

4. Photo and video transfer: cloud services vs. cable

Photos and videos usually take up the lion's share of memory, and their transfer requires special attention.

Method 1: Google Photos (the easiest one)

• 📤 On Xiaomi, install Google Photos and enable autoload (Settings) → Backup and synchronization).
• 📥 Download the same app on your iPhone and log in to the same account.
• 🔄 All photos will automatically be uploaded in their original quality (if you select "High Quality" or "Original").

Method 2: Cable + PC (for large volumes)

If you have hundreds of gigabytes of photos/video, use a computer:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy DCIM and Pictures folders to your hard drive.
3. Connect your iPhone and transfer files via iTunes or Finder (to macOS).

Method 3: iCloud (if there is little space)

If your iPhone has a little memory, upload a photo to iCloud:

1. On Xiaomi, upload your photos to Google Drive or Dropbox.
2. On iPhone, download files and upload them to iCloud Photos (Settings) → [Your name] → iCloud → Photo Photo).

Free storage in Google Photos is limited to 15 GB per account (together with Gmail and Drive).

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Use the cable to transfer the photo in original quality + PC or Google Photos with the tariff "Original quality" Cloud services (iCloud, Dropbox) can compress files at a free rate.

5.Mobilization of WhatsApp and other messengers

WhatsApp chat history doesn't carry over Move to iOS! requires a workaround:

Method 1: Backup copy on Google Drive + recovery

1. On Xiaomi, open WhatsApp → ⚙ Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Create a copy on Google Drive (make sure your Google account is the same as your iPhone).
3. Install WhatsApp on your iPhone, log in to the same number and restore chats.

Method 2: Third-party Developer Programs

If the first method did not work (for example, due to a difference in the OS), use:

• 🔄 Backuptrans (paid but reliable software for PC).
• 📱 WazzapMigrator (requires root on Xiaomi).

⚠️ Note: Free WhatsApp portable software often contains viruses. Use only proven solutions from official websites.

For Telegram, the transfer is simpler: just log into your account on your iPhone – all chats and media files are synchronized automatically (if they were not deleted from the cloud).

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Before transferring WhatsApp, check if there is enough space on your iPhone: chat history can weigh tens of gigabytes. Free up memory in advance via Settings → Mainstream → iPhone storage.

6. Transfer of applications and game data

Xiaomi apps can’t be transferred directly to iPhones — they need to be re-installed from the App Store, but there are ways to keep the game progress and customizations running:

• 🎮 Most modern games (e.g. Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) are linked to a Google Play account, Facebook or your own developer account, log in to the game on your iPhone through the same account, and progress will recover.
• 📱 Apps: Services like Spotify, Netflix or 1Password They sync data over the cloud. Just log in to your iPhone account.
• 📊 Local Data: For applications without cloud sync (such as some photo editors), try manually copying files through Files → On my iPhone.

Exceptions: Some apps (such as banking) may require re-registration on iPhones for security reasons. APK-Files, so transferring applications from the App Store is not possible.

7. Solving typical transfer problems

Even when following the instructions, there may be errors.

Problem 1: Move to iOS does not find code

• 🔄 Restart the app on both phones.
• 📶 Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not mobile internet!).
• 🔌 Turn it off. VPN/Xiaomi antivirus – they can block the connection.

Problem 2: Photos are delayed, but no date

This is a known bug when you move through Google Photos or cable.

1. On your iPhone, open a photo in Google Photos.
2. Select all files → More. → Export in Photo.
3. The date will be restored (sometimes a reboot is required).

Problem 3: There is not enough space for the iPhone

If the transfer is interrupted due to memory loss:

• 🗑️ Free up space through Settings → Mainstream → iPhone storage (remove unnecessary apps or cache).
• ☁️ Transfer data in parts: first contacts, then photos, then videos.
• 💾 Use cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox) as an intermediary storage.

8. Alternative methods: for experienced users

If standard methods don’t work, consider these options:

Method 1: Transfer through ADB (tech-savvy)

Use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) To copy data from Xiaomi to PC and then to iPhone:

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM ~/Desktop/Xiaomi_Photos


adb pull /sdcard/Download ~/Desktop/Xiaomi_Files

You'll need to turn on the debugging. USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode).

Method 2: Local area network (Wi-Fi Direct)

Applications like Send Anywhere or Xender allow you to transfer files directly over Wi-Fi without cables:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On Xiaomi, select files and generate a key.
3. On your iPhone, enter this key to obtain data.

Method 3: Backup copy MIUI + conversion

Xiaomi backs up.miui, which can be converted into readable form by:

• 🖥️ Mi PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi for Windows).
• 🛠️ Python scripts (e.g., miui-backup-extractor on GitHub).

⚠️ Attention: Backup copies MIUI This may contain personal data (sms, calls) and do not transmit it through unreliable channels!

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Alternative methods (ADB, Wi-Fi Direct is suitable for power users, but requires more time and technical knowledge.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions